Baby Piano

by john aschenbrennerJanuary 17, 2019

Baby Piano refers to either a toy piano, or a method for teaching the youngest kids piano. This age group is easily inspired, but you must go at a glacial pace. I've taught many toddlers, usually as the youngest sibling of brothers and sisters who take piano with me.

They watch the lessons in the living room, and can't wait to join in the fun. But they'll have to wait until Mom and Dad decide they are old enough. So, what age is old enough to start piano?

It's Like Handling Eggs

I've actually taught three year olds the piano. They are a very fun age, but you must act as if you are handling eggs. One child stands out as an example of how to treat three year olds at the piano. I'll call him Taylor, although that is not his real name. Taylor watched his older brother and sister take lessons since he was born.

What Piano Babies Like

It could not have escaped his attention that I never got mad, never scolded, and never put undue pressure on his siblings. Taylor liked the sound of the piano, and wanted to try it. First, we made up silly games, usually about finding Middle C. Many lessons were just elaborate ruses to get Taylor to find Middle C. Anything more would have overloaded him. A lesson for Taylor would last about 5 minutes in the beginning.

Taylor Goes Further

I pointed out to Taylor that if he could play 5 as well as 1, he would have the beginning of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Here's a numbered keyboard so you can see what Taylor saw.

We now spent many a lesson (5 minutes) just playing 1 1 5 5 (the opening notes of Twinkle, Twinkle.) Try playing a bit of Twinkle, Twinkle on our online piano below.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

| 1 1 5 5 | 6 6 5 * | 4 4 3 3 | 2 2 1 * |

| 5 5 4 4 | 3 3 2 * | 5 5 4 4 | 3 3 2 * |

Go As Slowly As Possible

Whatever you might expect of an adult, you must expect far less from such a young child.It took months for Taylor to find the entire song Twinkle, Twinkle. I never wavered, never showed impatience. The lesson was always over when Taylor said it was.

Five minutes. Eight minutes. Let the child appear to lead the lesson, or you will get lost. All that matters is the child's perception. Help them discover that the piano is fun.